ABSTRACT
Online education is expanding rapidly. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced many universities to move from conventional, face-to-face instruction to hybrid or entirely online instruction. To overcome this unprecedented situation, instructors have modified course content and laboratories to be available virtually while trying to make them as interactive as possible. Virtual laboratories are either mostly pre-recorded experiments or involve controlling physical/virtual equipment through an online interface. None of these methods provide an adequate hands-on learning experience, which is essential for understanding fundamental engineering concepts. For online and distance learning programs, hands-on activities in a laboratory classroom setting are not always feasible, generating a strong push to develop low-cost, compact, and portable experimental toolboxes and kits that individual students can obtain. A group of faculty, students, and staff at the University of Indianapolis has developed an experimental toolbox that allows students to visualize engineering statics fundamentals. The experimental kit and a list of experiments complete with instructions will be made available to the students at the beginning of the course to perform the laboratory-style experiments at home. Students will be able to collect an experimental kit from campus with an appropriate deposit (each kit costs approximately $180 to $200 US). The university can also ship kits to students' addresses upon request with an additional delivery cost. Students can return the experimental kit at the end of the course and have their deposits returned. Performing laboratory style experiments at home using these kits will provide a valuable hands-on learning experience. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2021